BJP, CPI-M initiate action against Trinamool over morphed photo

Kolkata: Upping the ante against the Trinamool Congress, the BJP and the CPI-M on Sunday filed police complaints here against West Bengal’s ruling party for publishing a morphed picture showing union Home Minister Rajnath Singh offering sweets to former Marxist general secretary Prakash Karat.

Besides filing police complaints in Delhi and Kolkata, the Communist Party of India-Marxist said it will raise the issue in parliament on Monday.

The morphed picture was one of several pictures displayed by Trinamool’s Rajya Sabha member Derek O’Brien on Saturday in an attempt to prove close links between CPI-M and Bharatiya Janata Party leaders.

The BJP later showed the “real picture” showing the home minister offering sweets to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The Trinamool later admitted that the picture was photoshopped and removed it from the party’s website. O’Brien too admitted it was a “mistake” and sought to “end the chapter”.

While the CPI-M’s complaints both with Delhi and Kolkata police have been filed against O’Brien, the BJP in its complaint here named Trinamool supremo and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and party general secretary Subrata Bakshi besides O’Brien.

“In our complaint, we have named Banerjee, Bakshi and O’Brien and demanded their arrest for this fraud,” said BJP leader Jayprakash Majumdar.

The BJP also said it will petition the Election Commission on Monday to demand deregistration of the Trinamool over the issue.

“We will move the Election Commission tomorrow (Monday) to demand the deregistration of the Trinamool,” BJP national secretary Siddharth Nath Singh told IANS in Delhi.

Seeking action against the Trinamool leader, Karat in his complaint said: “O’Brien displayed the picture to make unfound allegations and politically defame me and bring me into disrepute with the people.”

Citing the example of Jadavpur University professor Ambikesh Mahapatra, who was arrested in 2012 for circulating a spoof on Mamata Banerjee, Marxist veteran and Left Front chairman Biman Bose demanded O’Brien be arrested.

“The chief minister should immediately order the arrest of Derek O’Brien. The reason for which Ambikesh Mahapatra, who had forwarded a cartoon, was arrested and sent behind bars, is applicable for O’Brien also. He deserves to be in jail,” said Bose.

Alleging that fraud was “Trinamool’s motto”, CPI-M general secretary Sitaram Yechury said the matter will be raised in parliament where the session will begin on Monday.

“This photo morphing is an indication of the Trinamool’s desperation. They have realised that their defeat is certain that is why they have started such type of thing.

“Whatever they are doing, there is fraud in everything. Fraud is their theme and motto. Since this have been done by a Rajya Sabha member, the matter will be raised in parliament on Monday,” said Yechury.